The Long Goodbye: 03/31/12

The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler is the last of seven mysteries featuring Philip Marlowe. I decided to give Raymond Chandler a try since I had one of his books on hand.

Marlowe tries to do the right thing by helping Terry Lennox whom he found falling down drunk. Lennox though after a brief friendship flees the country leaving Marlowe fingered as an accomplice in the murder of his wife.

The book is set in 1950s Los Angeles. It's a grittier, lonelier and more pessimistic view of the city than that of his contemporary, Perry Mason. Chandler shows how easy it is to be alone in a city full of people if one wants to be.